Mechanical pencil



Oct. 31, 1939. 1... J. MOST MECHANICAL PENCIL Filed July 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 1.11. Most BY [1/4 A i iORNEY Oct. 31, 1939.

1.. J. MOST MECHANICAL PENCIL Filed July 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R o u T M w mi BY q Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES OFFICE MEoHANIoAIirENorn I Lucifer J. Most, Hudson County, I N. J.

Application July 15, 1939, Serial N o. 284,653'

18 Claims. (Cl.'120 1g w" The object of the invention is to provide a wholly enclosed interiorly threaded member forengaging a lead directly, and positioned between aligning lead guides of angular cross section, the said member and guides being revoluble relatively to one another, but the member and the guides are prevented from longitudinal movement rela-.

tive to one another with means for turning relatively the lead guides and the threaded member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple mechanism formed of few moving parts, for propelling, retracting, expelling and automatically presenting a new lead to writing position.

In the appended drawings forming part of this application, Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section on line l-l, Figure 2 of a pencil embodying one form of my invention, the lead being removed to better illustrate the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross section on line 2-42, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the mechanism forv actuating the lead in the pencil, as illustrated in Figure 1.

of a mechanical pencil showing a modified structure.

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-section on line 55, Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical section of a lower part of a pencil outline on line 66, Figure 7, showing a further modification.

Figure 7 is an enlarged cross-section on line 'I-'l, Figure 6, Figure 8 is a similar cross-section on line 8 8,

Figure 6, and

Fig. 91s. a fragmentary side elevation of an inner tubular part of the device shown in Fig. 6. Referring to the drawings, I0 is a barrel which is provided with a customary tip II, and it is made rigid with the barrel. The tip has a lead on the lead guide and anchored thereto above' the tip II is one end of a yoke I5. The other end of the yoke carries a second lead guide I6 in spaced relation with the lead guide I3 and 1111 Figure 4 is a vertical section of the lower part.

alignm 'nt ftherewith. The yoke holds the two guides in fixed relation.

A threaded member I! is positioned in the space between the lead guides I3 and IE to revolverelatively'thereto, but prevented to move longitudinally of said guides. Preferably, the threaded member I! is recessed at its ends to engage the proximate ends of the lead guides I3 and I6 respectively. This engagement of the threaded member with the lead guides provides. the necessarybearingsfor said threaded member on which it may turn. As will be noted, the threaded member is also located to turn within the yoke I5.

The threaded member II has on its lateral surface a plurality. of recesses I8, eachengaged by a"'corr'espon'din'g yielding arm I9, the said arms extending from a ring 20, with which they form a spider with yielding arms. The ring is secured; to the lower end of a tube 2| extending past the end of the barrel remote from the tip.

The tube 2| has an exterior bead 22 which bears against a ring 23 positioned within the barrel 10.. This ring, although it permits the rotation of the tube 2I, in the barrel, prevents the longitudinal displacement of said tube within the barrel. .The tube 2| carries an eraser 24 and a ,cap25, by which it may be revolved in either direction.v Positioned in the tube 2| to move therewith is'a' washer 26 recessed at its end to provide a'bearing for the upper end of the lead guide I6.

As will be seen three arms I9 are shown in engage'rnent with the threaded member II. In revolving the tube 2I for actuating the lead 9, the spider arms I9 are constrained to revolve with the tubeCZI, that is, the magazine. As any of the arms I9 strikes the upright of theyoke I5, at a stationary cam 21 provided on the upright, it "is forced out'of engagement with the corresponding recess I8 of, the threaded member. Therefore, while 'there .is one arm disengaged from the threaded member passing in the back of the uprightof the yoke I5, the other two members are still in engagement and continue to revolve the threaded member, and when the disengaged arm has passed the upright of the yoke, it snaps back into the corresponding recess. It, therefore, wilLbe apparent'that at no time during the manipulation of the driving mechanism, can there be more than one arm I9 disengaged with the threaded member I1, and the action is identical no, matter in what direction the magazine is revolved.

vIn revolving the threaded member II, the lead 9 is engaged directly by it as it passes from the magazine through the stationary guide IS. The threaded engagement of the member I! withthe lead 9, causes the lead to move longitudinally of the threaded member, the lead being prevented from turning by the guides l4 and I6. Although in the turning movement of the threaded member by the magazine there may be one of the yielding arms uncoupled from the threaded member, there are always two other arms still coupled to rotate it so that at no time is there a complete uncoupling between the magazine and the threaded member. Each yielding arm of the spider may be considered to be a separate coupling means for independently coupling and 'uncoupling the threaded member I! with the magazine formed by the tube 2|.

In the modification shown in Figures 4 and 5" inclusive, the tip 28 is revoluble relatively to the barrel 29. It is prevented from longitudinal displacement relative to the barrel by a washer 30, which forms a retainer for the tip in the barrel. The passage ill in the tip is of angular crosssection and forms the guide for the lead. The yoke 27 is secured with one end thereof to the tip 28 to move therewith. The other end of the yoke carries the upper lead guide [6, which is aligned with the passage 3| and of the same size in contour and in cross-section. The interiorly threaded member ll is positioned within the yoke and bears on the end of the guide [6' and the end of the tip, that are housed in the corresponding ends of the threaded member ll. Thus, the threaded member and the lead guides are relatively revoluble, but prevented from moving longitudinally. The yielding arms l9 engage the threaded member ll in the same manner as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, but in'place of having a ring joining them, they are preferably set in the washer 26' which in this particular case is anchored in the barrel 29. The guide H5 is revoluble in the washer 26.

In the arrangement shown in Figures land 5 when the tip 28 is revolved, the yoke 21 revolves therewith, and, therefore, the lead guide I 6. The yielding arms l9 will, therefore, be stationary relatively to the guides and the threaded member engaged by them. Therefore, a lead carried by the lead guide l6 will revolve therewith and be threaded through the threaded member l6 and through the lead guide passage 3|. During the rotation of the yoke there will always be two yield-- ing arms in engagement with the'threaded member while one is being disengaged by a cam 21 provided on the yoke for the purpose. It is evident that the operation is identical with that described for Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, except that in this particular case, the yoke is revolved in place of revolving the threaded member, as described in reference to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive.

The modification shown in Figures 6 to 9 inclusive, shows a barrel 32 provided with a tip 33 which is anchored in the barrel. The tip has a recess 34 for a threaded member 35 to revolve therein. The bore of the threaded member aligns with a passage 36 in the tip, the passage being of angular cross-section and forms a lead guide. The tip above the recess, 34 is an enlarged recess 31 to receive a washer 38 to be anchored therein. The Washer 33 has a passage 39 of similar crosssection as the passage 38 and in alignment therewith. This passage in the washer forms with the passage 36 the spaced lead guides between which the interiorly threaded member 35 is positioned.

In addition, the tip 33 on one side of the recess 34 near the top has a recess 40 which houses a pinion 4|, the trunnion 42 of which bears in the tip so that the pinion can freely rotate in the recess. The pinion H is engaged with an exterior gear 43 formed in the body of the threaded member 35. Positioned within the barrel to revolve therein is a tube 44 housing the washer 38 and revoluble relative thereto. The lower end of the tube bears in an annular recess 45 formed in the tip 33. This annular recess 4% merges with the recess 40 for the pinion, so that the teeth 46 formed on the lower end of the tube id engage the tip of the pinion ll, as best shown in Figure 8. In revolving the tube 44, the pinion is revolved, and, therefore, the interiorly threaded member 35.

,To provide a smooth bottom for the magazine formed by the tube 44 and the washer 38, a key 61 is positioned in the recess left in the tip between the tube 44 and the washer 38.

In all these structures illustrated and described, the interiorly threaded member is enclosed wholly in the barrel and is positioned between the spaced aligning lead guides of angular cross-section with either the guides or the threaded member, being revoluble relative to one another while prevented from moving longitudinally, with means for revolving relatively, the threaded member and lead guides from an end of the barrel, as distinguished from the lateral access of the threaded member for the manipulation of same.

I claim:

1. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, aligning spaced lead guides of angular cross section in the barrel, an interiorly threaded member positioned between the guides and wholly within the barrel to turn relatively to the guides, but prevented from moving longitudinally thereof, and means to turn relatively the guides and the threaded member.

2. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, aligning spaced lead guides of angular cross section in the barrel, an interiorly threaded member positioned within the guides to turn relatively to the guides, but prevented from moving longitudinally thereof and means to turn relatively the guides and the threaded member from an end of the barrel.

3. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, aligning spacedlead' guides of angular cross-section in the barrel, an interiorly threaded member positioned between the guides and wholly within the barrel, and means to turn relatively the guides and the threaded member from an end of the barrel.

4. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel having a magazine for leads, spaced lead guides from the magazine for preventing a lead from turning therein while permitting the lead to move longitudinally in said guides, an interiorly threaded member positioned between the guides, said guides and threaded member being relatively revoluble but prevented from moving longitudinally, a plurality of yielding means, each independently coupling the magazine to the threaded member, and means for revolving relatively the threaded member and lead guides from an end of the barrel.

5. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel having a magazine for leads, spaced lead guides from the magazine for preventing a lead from turning therein While permitting the lead to move longitudinally in said guides, an interiorly threaded member wholly within the barrel and positioned between the guides, said guides and threaded member being relatively revoluble but prevented from moving longitudinally of one another, a plurality of yielding means, each normally coupling the magazine to the threaded member, and

charme each' adapted to independently fiiincouple' are magazine from the threaded member when meeting an obstructionin the path ofits movement,

and means for revolving relatively 'thethreaded member and the guides from anend of the barrel) I 16. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel havinga magazine for leads in the barrel, spaced lead guides-from the magazine, a yoke'for ma'intainf ing said lead guides in fixed spaced relationj said' ing the yoke and the threaded member relatively to one another.

7. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, a magazine for leads revoluble in the barrel, spaced lead guides from the magazine for preventing the lead to turn therein While permitting the lead to move longitudinally in, said guides, an interiorly threaded member positioned between the guides to revolve relatively thereto, but prevented from moving longitudinally thereof, and a plurality of yielding means, each independently coupling the magazine to the threaded member.

8. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, a magazine for leads revoluble in the barrel, spaced lead guides from the magazine for preventing the lead dependently uncouple the magazine from the threaded member when meeting an obstruction in the path of its movement.

9. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, a magazine for leads revoluble in the barrel, spaced lead guides from the magazine, a yoke for maintaining said lead guides in fixed spaced relation, said guides being adapted to prevent a lead from turning therein while permitting it to move longitudinally, a threaded member positioned between the guides to revolve relatively thereto but prevented from moving longitudinally thereof, and a plurality of yielding means coupling the threaded member to the magazine, each of said yielding means adapted to clear the yoke independently.

10. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, a magazine for leads revoluble in the barrel, spaced lead guides of angular cross section from the magazine, a yoke for maintaining the guides in fixed spaced relation, a threaded member positioned between the guides to revolve relatively thereto but prevented from moving longitudinally thereof, a spider having yielding arms coupling I the magazine to the threaded member, and

whereby the threaded member is revolved.

11. Ina mechanical pencil, a barrel having a lead outlet, a pair of lead guides of angular cross section, a yoke spacing and aligning the guides in the barrel and with the outlet, a magazine revoluble in the barrel for feeding leads to the guides, a threaded member for engaging a lead directly positioned between the guides revoluble relatively thereto but prevented from moving longitudina'll'y thereof; and a spider having yieldingjarmsgeach coupling themagaz'ine to the threadedmember.

12. In amechanical pencilga barrel having a lead outlet, a'pair of aligning spaced lead guides of angula r' cross sectio'nin the barrel for directingleads through the outlet of the barrel, a yoke engaging said guides for maintaining the same inha fi'xed' relation, a threaded member for, en-

gaging thelead directly positioned between the guides and revoluble relatively thereto but preventedfrom moving longitudinally of said guides, a magazine for feeding leads to the guides, and a plurality of yielding coupling means from the magazine to the threaded member, each of said yielding coupling means being adapted to disengage the magazine from the threaded member asit comes in contact with the yoke.

13. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel having a lead outlet, a pair of aligning spaced lead guides of angular cross section in the barrel for directing leads through the outlet of the barrel, a yoke engaging said guides for maintaining the same in a fixed relation, a threaded member for engaging the lead directly positioned between the guides and revoluble relatively thereto but prevented from moving longitudinally of said guides, a tube revoluble in the barrel, a washer in said tube secured thereto and forming a bearing for the proximate end of the lead guide, and forming with said tube and washera magazine for leads, and a spider having yielding arms secured to said tube to move therewith, each of said arms of the spider engaging the threaded member, and each adapted to independently engage and disengage said threaded member when a spider arm encounters the yoke.

14. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, a lead magazine revoluble therein, spaced lead guides of angular cross section from the magazine, an interiorly threaded member wholly within the barrel positioned between the guides and revoluble rela- 15. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, spaced lead guides of angular cross section positioned within the barrel, an interiorly threaded member wholly positioned within the barrel and mounted rotatively between the guides but prevented from moving longitudinally thereof, an exterior gear formed on the threaded member, a tube revolubly mounted in the barrel and having teeth formed at the lower end thereof, a pinion meshing with the teeth of the tube and the gear of the threaded member, and a washer secured to the upper guide and positioned within the tube and forming therewith a magazine for leads. I

16. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel having a tip provided with a lead passage of angular cross secguide carried by the yoke in spaced relation with the passageof the tip and in alignment therewith, an interiorly threaded member positioned between the passage and the lead guide, a washer in the barrel positioned above the yoke and forming with the barrel a magazine for leads, and yielding arms associated with the washer and engaging the threaded member for preventing the same from turning when the yoke is turned by the turning of thetip.

LUCIF'ER J MOST. 

